W.C. Handy Music Festival 2024

Thursday, July 18 to Sunday, July 28

2024's Handy Headliner: The BAR-KAYS

It’s the Return of the Mack himself!  Larry Dodson, the famous lead vocalist of the Bar-Kays is coming back to the Shoals and he’s bringing the world famous Bar-Kays with him!  That’s right, Memphis will just have to miss them for a minute because the Bar-Kays are headlining the W.C. Handy Music Festival! 

From Stax Records to stages worldwide, the Bar-Kays have kept us on the dance floor with songs like Shake Your Rump To The Funk, Hit and Run, Move Your Boogie Body,  Holy Ghost, Sexomatic, Too Hot To Stop, Attitudes, She Talks To Me With Her Body, Freak Show on the Dance Floor (complete with a boa constrictor!), Son of Shaft, and Return of the Mack.  They racked up twenty-three singles on the R&B charts in an eleven year span, and those were just some of their songs.  They’ve had songs charting from the sixties up until today.  Their music has been featured in movie soundtracks, sung and sampled by other artists, and can be heard on radio around the world. 

Larry is also a solo artist, affectionately called “Uncle Larry”, and has made a  name for himself in the southern soul genre.  Don’t miss the chance to move your own boogie body because a Bar-Kays show with an opening by the Shoals area’s local star Lorinda “Pinky” Warren Pryor is just too hot to stop!

UNIVERSITY OF NORTH ALABAMA

Saturday July 27th 7pm

at UNA’s Norton Auditorium

$40.00 General Admission

$75 for VIP Seating and Reception

Tickets available at Counts Brothers Music, Ye Olde General Store, WZZA Radio, (and after July 14 at Handy Headquarters)

Click a flyer above for more information.

Concession Locations

Handy Headquarters
Southhall Moore House
215 East Tuscaloosa Street
Florence, AL
256-766-7642

Alabama Music Hall of Fame

Alabama Music Hall of Fame
617 US-72 W
Tuscumbia, AL 35674
256-381-4417

Operating Hours
Tue-Fri: 10:00am – 5:00pm
Sat: 10:00am – 4:00pm
Sun: Closed

Coats Clothing Store
122 North Court Street
Florence, AL 35630
256-760-0033

Counts Brothers Music
713 Waverly Avenue
Muscle Shoals, AL 35661
256-383-7454

Operating Hours
M-F: 10:00am – 6:00pm
Sat: 9:00am – 5:00pm
Sun: Closed

Ye Olde General Store
219 N Seminary St.
Florence, AL 35630
256-764-0601

Operating Hours
Tue-Fri: 10:00am – 5:00pm
Sat: 10:00am – 4:00pm
Sun: Closed

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Wrapping things up with another day of amazing music events Sunday, July 28: Blue NavigatorsStarts: 11:00 AMLocation: Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 1332 North Pine St., Florence, ALEnjoy the Blue Navigators in the cool!Featuring: Blue NavigatorsSponsored By: Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the ShoalsFloBama Presents: Microwave DaveStarts: 11:30 AM | Ends: 2:30 PMLocation: FloBama, 311 North Court St., Florence, ALJust like always, Microwave Dave gives you the best music to munch your lunch to!Featuring: Microwave DaveSponsored By: FloBamaHandy Happy Hour at Kingpin’sStarts: 2:00 PM | Ends: 5:00 PMLocation: Kingpin’s, 203 East 6th St. - Ste. B, Tuscumbia, ALFeaturing: To Be AnnouncedBlack Business Expo!Starts: 3:00 PM | Ends: 7:00 PMLocation: Clarion Hotel, 4900 Hatch Blvd., Sheffield, ALRecressia shows love to small businesses making a difference. Visit vendor booths where you'll find free samples and items available for purchase!Featuring: Recressia Doxie, Entreprenuer!Sponsored By: Ms. Recrissha DoxieCactus Cowboys JamStarts: 4:00 PM | Ends: 7:00 PMLocation: Shaffer’s Happy Hollow Marina, 270 Hammond Dr., Florence, ALFeaturing: Cactus CowboysSponsored By: Shoals Radiology AssociatesSwinging River Jazz BandStarts: 5:00 PMLocation: First Baptist Church, 209 N. Walnut St., Florence, ALFeaturing: Swinging River Jazz BandSponsored By: First Baptist Church Worship Ministries * Tanya Hill, Associate Broker, Cafe Realty LLCHandy Nights at SwampersStarts: 7:30 PM | Ends: 10:00 PMLocation: Swampers Bar and Grille, Marriott Shoals, 10 Hightower Pl, Florence, ALFeaturing: Taylor Grace Band#WCHandyFest2024 ... See MoreSee Less
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The last Saturday of the festival and there is still plenty of this to enjoy. Music at the MansionStarts: 2:00 PM | Ends: 4:00 PMLocation: Belle Mont Mansion, 1569 Cook Lane, Tuscumbia, ALFeaturing: Reddick Pernell CunninghamSponsored By: Colbert County Historical Landmarks Foundation * Alabama Historical Commission and Cameron Kay on behalf of the Tuscumbia Civitan Club an din memory of Dr. Willie Ruff, founder of the W.C. Handy Music Festival * Friends of Belle Mont Friends of Belle MontAcoustic Bluegrass Gospel JamStarts: 2:00 PM | Ends: 4:00 PMLocation: Shoals Seventh Day Adventist Church, 2011 County Rd 41, Florence, ALFree indoor event so come and enjoy, rain or shine! Tap your feet, bob your head, see your friends, and jam along with this bluegrass band! Featuring: Lidabell and the Slackers Bluegrass Band, Glass FamilySponsored By: Shoals Seventh-Day Adventist ChurchWC Handy Movie: St. Louis BluesStarts: 3:00 PMLocation: Alabama Music Hall of Fame, 617 US Hwy 72 West, Tuscumbia, ALA screening of the film St. Louis Blues, starring Nat "King" Cole at WC Handy.Featuring: The late great Nat “King” ColeSponsored By: Alabama Music Hall of Fame Music Preservation Society, Inc. ... See MoreSee Less
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Join us TONIGHT for the COOLEST event of the summer! The Massively Cool Indoor Street Party at the Marriot Shoals Conference Center. Doors open at 5:00 PM.Enjoy a delicious Barbeque Buffet while watching live performances from The Kerry Gilbert Band and Rewind! Thank you to Fuller Services for this event Tickets 👇lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/vxw9qbv#WCHandyFest2024 ... See MoreSee Less
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Handy Headliner: The Bar-Kays Featuring Larry Dodson!Saturday, July 27 at Norton Auditorium. Prepared to be entertained by the talented Kimble Funchess Band, Larry Dodson, Lorinda “Pinky” Warren Pryor, The Bar-Kays!InformationShow opens with performance by Lorinda “Pinky” Warren Pryor!Tickets only $40 General Admission, and $75 for VIP with preferred seating and your chance to meet the Bar-Kays!The doors open 6:30pm. Tickets available at Handy Headquarters and Ye Olde General Store in Florence, Counts Brothers Music in Muscle Shoals, and WZZA Radio in Tuscumbia.Or get tickets here www.eventbrite.com/e/bar-kays-at-2024-wc-handy-music-festival-tickets-951977298727?aff=oddtdtcrea... Pricing$40.00 General Admission$75 for VIP Seating and Meet and GreetSponsorsMusic Preservation Society, Inc. and WZZA “The Soul of the Shoals” Radio ... See MoreSee Less
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Indoors or Patio - You Have Options!Swinging with the Seniors!11:00 AM to1:00 PMLocation: Florence-Lauderdale Coliseum, 702 E. Veterans Dr., Florence, ALThe seniors will show you how to swing with the Jazz Allstars and Ariella! Reserved seniors seating on the floor for those enjoying lunch. More seating in the bleachers for everyone else! Featuring: Jazz Allstars, AriellaSponsored By: Northwest Alabama Council of Local Governments Florence Parks & Recreation Music Preservation Society, Inc.Acoustic Patio Session at 306 BBQ, Florence11:00 AM to 1:00 PMLocation: 306 BBQ (Florence), 322 N. Court St., Florence, ALFeaturing: Cadence BakerAcoustic Patio Session at Smokin’ Jalapeno’s and 306 BBQ, Muscle Shoals11:01 AM to 1:00 PMLocation: Smokin’ Jalapeno’s / 306 BBQ, Muscle Shoals, 400 West Avalon Ave., Muscle Shoals, ALFeaturing: Moore and Co. ... See MoreSee Less
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